Air fryer cooking timer

How to use the timer

1. Pick a preset, type a time, or press Start check timer in the cooking finder to fill it in for you.
2. Press Start. The page title shows the countdown, so you can switch tabs and still see it.
3. At halfway you'll hear two beeps and see a reminder to shake or flip (for times of 2 minutes or more).
4. At zero you'll hear four beeps. Check the food, and press +1 min if it needs longer.

Making sure you hear it

Browsers only allow sound after you've tapped the page, so the alarm works once you've pressed Start. Keep your device's volume up and the tab open. On phones, the screen locking can pause timers in some browsers, so keep the screen on while you cook, or use your fryer's own timer as a backup.

Setting the right time

Set the timer for the low end of the check window, not the high end. If the food isn't ready, add a minute or two with the +1 min button and check again. That way the timer prompts you to look before anything overcooks. For meat, the timer tells you when to take a temperature reading; the thermometer tells you when it's done.

Shake, flip, or leave it?

The halfway reminder is a prompt, not a rule. What to do depends on the food:

Not sure of the time? The cooking times chart lists check windows for 35 foods.

Why a separate timer helps

Many air fryers stop the timer when you pull the basket out, and some restart from the beginning when you push it back. A separate timer keeps track of the total cook time, which makes your notes more accurate.

Common questions

Reviewed October 2026.